James Waybern Hall: The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer
Early Life and Background
James Waybern Hall, also known as "Big Jim," was born on January 28, 1921. Drafted by the navy in 1943, Hall was dishonorably discharged after eight weeks of training. Back home in Little Rock, Arkansas, he married 19-year-old Fayrene Clemmons on March 14, 1944. Their relationship was tumultuous, marked by a brief separation in June 1944.
Crimes and Victims
Hall's crime spree began in 1944 and continued until his arrest in 1945. He was responsible for the deaths of four individuals, including his wife. Below are the details of his victims:
- Fayrene Clemmons: Hall's wife, 19 years old. Disappeared on September 25, 1944. Her body was never found.
- Carl Hamilton: Camden barber. Found dead on January 29, 1945, in Ouachita County, Arkansas, with a bullet in his heart.
- E.C. Adams: Vanished on February 1, 1945, en route to his job at a Little Rock war plant. His body was found in Dallas County, Arkansas, with a bullet in his brain.
- Doyle Mulherin: Trucker. Reported overdue on February 1, 1945. His body was found near Stuttgart, Arkansas, with a bullet in his head.
Arrest and Execution
James Hall was arrested on March 2, 1945, after being involved in a bar fight in Little Rock. He was fined for simple assault but later connected to the murders. Hall was convicted of murder after a two-day trial in May 1945 and sentenced to death. He was executed by electrocution on January 4, 1946, in Arkansas.
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